Penicuik
welcomed Ballingry Rovers for this league match, looking for revenge after the visitors beat them 3-2 at Ballingry in the
Fife & Lothians Cup. The first chance fell to Penicuik when a free kick was headed back across goal, but Roberts was at
full stretch to head the ball clear with Cameron ready to pounce. In the 10th minute, Ramage had to be quick to
save a free kick low down to his right. Four minutes later, a defence splitting pass picked out Adam but Meikle recovered
to put in a great block and the danger was cleared. In the 17th minute, Cameron appeared to be upended from behind
in the penalty box, but referee Hanlon was unmoved. At the other end, Ramage rushed from goal to deny Adam. Then Gallagher
for Penicuik had a chance from a corner kick, but his shot went straight to keeper Chalmers.

In
the 27th minute, Moonie almost got on to a Steel pass, but couldn’t quite make contact. On the half hour,
a sliced clearance by Meikle fortunately went straight to Ramage. Then Wilson was booked for hauling down Montgomery as he
drove in on goal. From the free kick, Meikle got his head to the ball but couldn’t get enough on it to hit the target.
Minutes later Lynch saved the day for Penicuik with a great tackle on the edge of the box. Immediately afterwards, Montgomery
intercepted a Ballingry pass in the middle of the park, but his powerful shot went a foot over the bar. In the 40th
minute Rollo came close for Ballingry with a free kick that went narrowly past the post. In Penicuik’s next attack,
Barr saw his strike beat Chalmers but was inches wide of the target. Then Wilson got past Montgomery only to see his cross
hit the face of the crossbar and go harmlessly out for a throw in.

Half Time: Penicuik 0 Ballingry 0

Penicuik
came out in the second half with a more determined attitude and in the 53rd minute following strong pressure, Rollo, on the
goal line, handled Moonie’s strike from the edge of the box and was red carded for his misdemeanour. GAY slammed the spot kick into the roof of the net. One minute later, a great cross by Gay was met by BARR whose downward header beat keeper Chalmers to double Penicuik’s lead. In the 58th
minute, Cameron sent over a cross from the left wing and Montgomery’, left foot volley crashed back off the crossbar
and was cleared. Then Cameron had a clear cut chance when a poor clearance fell to him in the box, but he mishit his shot
and Chalmers got down quickly to save.

In
the 62nd minute, a flowing move by Penicuik culminated with the ball being crossed into the box. Barr got in a
shot, but Chalmers blocked it. However, BARR was quick to pounce on the rebound and
slot home from close range. One minute later, a Ballingry free kick to the back post was headed back across goal to the top
corner of the net, but went just wide of the target. Then Barry Smith came close with a strike that was inches off target.
In the 69th minute, Wilson broke down the right for Ballingry and his shot was well saved by Ramage. Minutes later,
Gray was allowed to drive in unchallenged on the Penicuik goal, but fortunately for them his shot was scooped high over the
bar. In the 79th minute, Steel for Penicuik saw his shot flash past the keepers left hand post. Right on full time,
Ballingry’s Graham saw his shot scrape the top of the crossbar.